[NoHo Arts District, CA] – In this month’s Soaring Solo blog, “Comparing is Despairing in Solo Theatre,” Jessica Lynn Johnson gives three tools to help the solo artist stop comparing themselves to others.
“The comparing mind is a despairing mind.” -Leni Zumas
Do you ever watch someone else’s solo show and start to compare your solo artistry to theirs? Have you ever looked at the accolades, reviews and achievements of another performer and felt jealous and less than by comparison?
You may find yourself thinking things like, “he is really gifted at playing characters. I could never transform into a character that believably,” or “she has toured the world with her show, I don’t think I would ever be able to do that,” or “they are such an excellent writer. My script is nowhere near that well written,” or “he’s winning awards! Why isn’t my show getting recognition? Maybe it’s not that good.”
You may have heard the concept that to compare is to despair. This is especially true in solo theatre. When you begin to focus outwardly and allow fear, envy, inferiority and other negative feelings to take hold, you are building a creative block brick by brick that stands in your way along your solo theatre path.
It is already challenging enough to bravely step onto the stage and tell your story without having to contend with a critic in your own mind.
In today’s blog, I will share three tools that you can utilize when you are tempted to compare yourself to another solo artist and then despair about your own solo art.
Reframe your insecurity as valuable data.
As you are watching another solo artist do their thing, pay attention to the insecurities and jealous feelings that come up for you when you compare yourself to them.
As you observe the thoughts and feelings that arise, instead of allowing them to psyche you out, be curious about what information they may have for you. The data you begin to collect may lead you to goals you may have for yourself that you can start to pursue with more passion. It could also indicate areas of weakness you wish to strengthen by taking more classes, lessons, or simply rehearsing more. Let this information serve as a roadmap of where your focus needs to be.
For example, let’s say you are looking at someone else who is energetically bouncing all around the stage with incredible stamina and you begin to feel badly about your own physical and mental acuity. Rather than deciding that you could never perform as intensely as they do, ask yourself questions such as:
“Do I want to have a high-energy solo show with lots of movement or is my style more subtle? Perhaps I can embrace a stillness in my own solo work that will enable me to connect deeply with my audience and myself.”
Or…
“Am I feeling bad about my body and mental dexterity right now in general? Maybe this is a sign that I need to start going to the gym again and spend more time studying my script to enhance my confidence.”
Identify the insecure thoughts and feelings and then stay curious about them rather than be intimidated by them.
Transform your intimidation into inspiration.
While you witness another person take on the amazing feat of performing a solo show, you may start to feel really intimidated by how seemingly easy they make it look.
However, the truth is likely that this person in front of you has spent hours writing, editing, rehearsing, promoting, working with their creative team, journaling about how hard this process is, and seeking support from trusted loved ones and mentors. But you do not see any of that behind-the-scenes work, you just see the finished product on the stage and that can feel really daunting and unattainable.
I would encourage you to instead look at the solo artist through new eyes and say to yourself, “I bet a lot of hard work and effort went into making this show so outstanding. I admire all that they put into their solo art and I want to channel these feelings of intimidation into admiration and inspiration. I want to look at this brave person in front of me and be reminded that if they can do it, I can do it too. I have no idea what demons they had to face in this process, but I can nearly be certain they had some to deal with. Everyone does. I am going to allow this performance to showcase to me what is possible, not only for them, but for me too.”
Embrace the spirit of solo theatre, which is individuality and authentic self expression.
The primary reason I am in love with the genre of solo theatre is that no two solo shows will ever be the same, just as no two solo artists will ever be the same. This art form thrives on each solo artist’s ability to discover their own unique voice and style and to share that individual expression with an audience in their one-person show.
It is key for you to remember this when you begin comparing yourself to another person and their solo show. The more you try to emulate someone else, the more you lose sight of who you are as a creative force, and that can majorly work against you. Even if there is an element of their show that you wish to mimic, you will want to embrace doing it in your own way through your own vessel. You can revel in the fact that they have tapped into their own personal zone of genius and this is living proof that you can too.
So, rather than seeing the unique unicorn that they are as proof that you are not enough, allow it to invite you to rise to the occasion of getting to know yourself on a deeper level.
What special stories from your life can you share with an audience? What tremendous talents do you have to offer? Are you more of a storyteller or a character actor? Do you enjoy simplicity when it comes to technical attributes or are you envisioning intricate and innovative design? Is your tone more comedic or dramatic?
Even if you do not know the answer to these questions yet, that is the beauty of the creative process. You get to find out along your solo journey! Keep checking in with your own creative intuition to determine what does and does not feel authentic to you.
I could certainly go on and on about the dangers of comparing and despairing as a solo artist and how to protect yourself from this trap; but I think I will leave it here for today and allow you to begin to practice these three tools. Implementing this trio will surely help you start to feel less discouraged and become more empowered as a solo artist.
As always, remember that solo theatre may not be easy, but it is so worth it!
Jessica Lynn Johnson
Founder & CEO of Soaring Solo LLC
SoaringSoloArtist@gmail.com
www.SoaringSoloStudios.com
Enjoy these Solo Theatre Resources to Further Guide You on Your Solo Journey!
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This enticing lineup can be found by CLICKING HERE FOR MORE INFO.
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Utilizing thought-provoking writing prompts, Jessica will lead you in writing exercises that are sure to assist you in the development of your solo show.
A one-person play is not typically written in one fell swoop. Rather, the Soaring Solo Methodology teaches that the creation of solo art is much like that of creating a Mosaic…one beautiful piece at a time.
All that is required to attend this inspiring event is a willingness to explore, having a pen, paper, or some other means of capturing your thoughts, the ability to access Zoom, and signing up on this page as your official RSVP.
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No matter where you are in the creation of your solo show, idea phase, curiosity phase, full draft written, touring the festival and college market, BEST NATIONAL SOLO ARTIST and founder of Soaring Solo, Jessica Lynn Johnson, will meet you where you are at and take you to the next level! All that is required to attend is a willingness to explore, a pen, and some paper. No previous writing or performance experience necessary, and no need to have written anything to bring to class. Each week, Jessica will guide you in exercises to help generate and stage NEW material! So come and meet other creatives in a supportive space for expression and exploration! The class is ongoing and so you may pop in and out as you please, as long as you RSVP BY CLICKING HERE for this FREE ONE-PERSON PLAY CLASS.
Schedule an Online Coaching Consultation
Schedule an Online Coaching Consultation with Jessica Lynn Johnson to discuss the possibilities for your solo show!
Jessica brings her 15+ years of solo theatre expertise to work privately with solo artists from all over the world on an as needed basis.
A 1-on-1 consultation is for you if…
-You are curious about creating a solo show, but you need writing prompts to help you generate material.
– You are tossing around ideas for your solo show, but you need some accountability and encouragement to commit those ideas to the page.
-You have already written some material, but you need expert feedback on editing, story structure and play formatting.
-You have a great first draft, but need guidance on how to utilize multimedia and solo theatre technique in order to make your show a dynamic piece of solo theatre.
-You already premiered your solo show and now you want some tips on how to tour colleges and festivals, and garner accolades and great reviews!
-You have heard great things about Jessica’s work and you’re curious about hiring her as a Director & Developer for your solo show, but first, you want to feel her out and see if she is the right fit for you and your project.
Wherever you may find yourself on your solo journey, Jessica will help you overcome whatever immediate obstacle stands between you and your solo success.
If you resonate with many of the things on this list, then take the next step by emailing SoaringSoloArtist@gmail.com for more information.
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